Cheers and jeers among 2011 Emmy nominations

CaptionKatey Sagal, "Sons of Anarchy"

FX

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series When I see a perennially nominated actress once again on this list and not Katey Sagal, I can only shake my head in disgust. True, hubby Kurt Sutter gave her a most awesome storyline in Season 2 of the searing FX drama (which, by the way, led to the most annoying 2010 Emmy snub), but Sagal delivered another beautifully nuanced performance as tough mother Gemma Teller Morrow this past season. Sagal deserves to move from the perennially snubbed list to the nominated list. At least she won that Golden Globe in January.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series When I see a perennially nominated actress once again on this list and not Katey Sagal, I can only shake my head in disgust. True, hubby Kurt Sutter gave her a most awesome storyline in Season 2 of the searing FX drama (which, by the way, led to the most annoying 2010 Emmy snub), but Sagal delivered another beautifully nuanced performance as tough mother Gemma Teller Morrow this past season. Sagal deserves to move from the perennially snubbed list to the nominated list. At least she won that Golden Globe in January. (FX)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Argh! For three seasons Emmy has snubbed this "Fringe" superstar. This season its especially grievous, as Noble split his time between playing kindly mad scientist Walter Bishop and the alternate world's vengeful government official Walternate, giving them both multiple layers that went much deeper than what was in the scripts.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Argh! For three seasons Emmy has snubbed this "Fringe" superstar. This season its especially grievous, as Noble split his time between playing kindly mad scientist Walter Bishop and the alternate world's vengeful government official Walternate, giving them both multiple layers that went much deeper than what was in the scripts. (Fox)

Quite a few TV actors were likely surprised early Thursday when they heard about their Emmy nomination, but none more visibly than Plainfield native Melissa McCarthy.

"Yikes," said McCarthy, 40, who was announcing the nominees live when her own name came up. "Ok. Keep it together! Wow!"

Visibly touched by her first Emmy nod, the "Mike & Molly" leading lady accepted congratulations from co-announcer Joshua Jackson, then pushed on with the task at hand. The nomination just adds to McCarthy’s stellar year. The actress, who has labored for years in bit parts, helped make the CBS sitcom a hit and steal scenes in the hit movie "Bridesmaids."

Perennial nominees including "Mad Men," "30 Rock" and "Modern Family" made the lists, but five of the 12 nominated comedy and drama series are first-time nominees, including HBO’s “Game of Thrones” and “Boardwalk Empire.”

McCarthy was in good company amongst the first-time nominees in acting categories, including Martha Plimpton for “Raising Hope,” Mireille Enos in the AMC crime drama “The Killing” and Timothy Olyphant in the modern Western drama “Justified” on FX.

Joining Olyphant was his co-star, Walton Goggins, recognized for his supporting work in the FX hit. Goggins was overlooked for years by Emmy voters when he played crooked cop Shane Vendrell in “The Shield.”

Reached via email Thursday, he wrote: “At a time in television where such extraordinary performances are being given, I’m just grateful to be included—humbled and grateful.”

Enos was joined by her “The Killing” co-star, Michelle Forbes, who plays a grief-wracked mother."At this stage in my life I’ve learned to not have very many expectations when it comes to this industry,” Forbes, 46, said of her first Emmy nod, Reuters reported.

Now it's time to simultaneously applaud favorites and gripe about those I feel were snubbed.

CHEERI'll start with what the Emmy voters did right, which was recognize several actors in FX's fantastic modern Western "Justified." Olyphant, Goggins, Martindale and Davies all earned nods in various categories (see below).

JEERThose same Emmy voters, however, neglected to nominate "Justified" in the series, which upped the ante in its sophomore season and earned a Peabody Award.

JEEREmmy may have recognized the fantasy genre, but continued its bias against sci-fi: Fox's "Fringe" and its actors were once again ignored.

CHEERPlimpton breaks through to score a best comedy actress nomination for Fox's "Raising Hope."

JEERCourteney Cox is left to down a bottle of wine by herself after she's overlooked for "Cougar Town."

CHEER"Friday Night Lights" and its man actors, Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, the Coach and his Mrs., all were nominated, a lovely gesture for the series' final season.

JEER"Friday Night Lights" should have a shelf-full of Emmys; it has been one of the most consistent, best shows on TV. (Yeah, I know, sour grapes jeer here. I should just be happy the show was nominated this year. But allow me this one last dig, OK?)

Fox will broadcast the Emmys on Sept. 18. “Glee” star and nominee Jane Lynch will host. What do you think of the nominations? (Downloadable full list here.) Leave your comment below.

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